Padlock for securing and monitoring a switch

Abstract

A padlock for securing and monitoring a switch of an industrial plant has a lock housing of plastic, furthermore a hoop which is displaceably held at the lock housing and a lock cylinder which is arranged in the lock housing and can selectively be brought from an open position into a locked position to lock the hoop to the lock housing. An RFID transponder is arranged in the lock housing. A securing and monitoring system for a switch of an industrial plant includes at least one such padlock and a mobile RFID reading device or an RFID reading device permanently attached in the environment of the switch, said RFID reading device being configured to read out the RFID transponder of the padlock.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A padlock for securing and monitoring a switch of an industrial plant, comprising:
 a lock housing of plastic; 
 a housing part which is secured in or at the lock housing; 
 a hoop which is displaceably held at the lock housing; and 
 a lock cylinder which can selectively be brought from an open position into a locked position to lock the hoop to the lock housing; 
 wherein an RFID transponder is arranged in an intermediate space between the lock housing and the housing part. 
 
     
     
       2. The padlock in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the RFID transponder is received in a recess of the lock housing or of the housing part. 
     
     
       3. The padlock in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the RFID transponder is received in the recess in a form-fitted manner. 
     
     
       4. The padlock in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener which releasably secures the lock housing and the housing part to one another, wherein the RFID transponder is captured in the intermediate space while the lock housing and the housing part are secured to one another. 
     
     
       5. The padlock in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the fastener is accessible from the outside only when the lock cylinder is brought into the open position by an associated key. 
     
     
       6. The padlock in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the hoop comprises a limb which projects into a hoop receiving passage of the lock housing or of the housing part when the hoop is locked to the lock housing in the closed position of the lock cylinder, wherein the limb of the hoop can be removed from the hoop receiving passage only when the lock cylinder is in the open position, wherein the fastener is arranged at an end of the hoop receiving passage, and wherein the fastener is accessible from the outside only when the hoop is removed from the hoop receiving passage. 
     
     
       7. The padlock in accordance with  claim 6 , further comprising a locking mechanism via which the lock cylinder cooperates with the hoop to selectively lock or release the limb, wherein the lock cylinder comprises a rotatable cylinder core having a driver projection at a rear side, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a rotational bolt and two blocking balls, wherein the rotational bolt is rotationally fixed to the driver projection, and wherein the rotational bolt at an outer side has receiving recesses which can partly receive the blocking balls and locking sections by which the blocking balls can be held in a blocking engagement with the hoop. 
     
     
       8. The padlock in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the housing part forms an inner housing which can be inserted into the lock housing. 
     
     
       9. The padlock in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the housing part is formed of plastic. 
     
     
       10. The padlock in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the RFID transponder is arranged spaced apart from the lock cylinder, and wherein the RFID transponder is completely surrounded by at least one of the lock housing and the housing part. 
     
     
       11. The padlock in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the lock cylinder has a longitudinal shape having a longitudinal axis, wherein the RFID transponder is arched with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lock cylinder. 
     
     
       12. The padlock in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the lock cylinder has a longitudinal shape having a longitudinal axis, wherein the RFID transponder extends at least along a part of the length of the lock cylinder along the longitudinal axis and at least along a part of the periphery of the lock cylinder around the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       13. The padlock in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the RFID transponder comprises at least one antenna, an electronic circuit coupled to the at least one antenna and a non-volatile memory in which a predetermined identification number is stored, wherein the RFID transponder is a passive component without an integrated energy supply. 
     
     
       14. A padlock for securing and monitoring a switch of an industrial plant, comprising:
 a lock housing of plastic; 
 a hoop which is displaceably held at the lock housing; 
 a lock cylinder which can selectively be brought from an open position into a locked position to lock the hoop to the lock housing; and 
 an RFID transponder which is releasably received within the lock housing; 
 wherein the RFID transponder is accessible for replacement only when the lock cylinder is brought into the open position by an associated key and the lock housing is opened. 
 
     
     
       15. The padlock in accordance with  claim 14 , further comprising a fastener for securing the lock housing in a closed state, wherein the hoop comprises a limb which projects into a hoop receiving passage of the lock housing when the hoop is locked to the lock housing in the closed position of the lock cylinder, wherein the limb of the hoop can be removed from the hoop receiving passage only when the lock cylinder is in the open position, wherein the fastener is arranged at an end of the hoop receiving passage, and wherein the fastener is accessible from the outside to selectively open the lock housing only when the hoop is removed from the hoop receiving passage. 
     
     
       16. The padlock in accordance with  claim 15 , further comprising a housing part which is selectively secured at the lock housing by the fastener to close or open the lock housing, wherein the RFID transponder is arranged in an intermediate space between the lock housing and the housing part. 
     
     
       17. The padlock in accordance with  claim 15 , further comprising a locking mechanism via which the lock cylinder cooperates with the hoop to selectively lock or release the limb, wherein the lock cylinder comprises a rotatable cylinder core having a driver projection at a rear side, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a rotational bolt and two blocking balls, wherein the rotational bolt is rotationally fixed to the driver projection, and wherein the rotational bolt at an outer side has receiving recesses which can partly receive the blocking balls and locking sections by which the blocking balls can be held in a blocking engagement with the hoop. 
     
     
       18. The padlock in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the lock cylinder has a longitudinal shape having a longitudinal axis, wherein the RFID transponder extends at least along a part of the length of the lock cylinder along the longitudinal axis and at least along a part of the periphery of the lock cylinder around the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       19. The padlock in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the RFID transponder is arranged spaced apart from the lock cylinder. 
     
     
       20. The padlock in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the RFID transponder comprises at least one antenna, an electronic circuit coupled to the at least one antenna and a non-volatile memory in which a predetermined identification number is stored, wherein the RFID transponder is a passive component without an integrated energy supply.